Abstract: An improved ram assembly for a blowout preventer having a design that permits the seals of the ram assembly to be located in the working area and out of the way of threads or other rough/jagged surfaces that could damage the seals in the event of failure of the blowout preventer, such as if the threaded connection fails and the rams are suddenly pushed outwards. The ram assembly can also have a pin-and-groove mechanism that permits the rams to rotate when in the closed/sealing position to account for a misaligned rod. Further, the ram heads of the ram assembly can have a sufficient length such that they remain supported by the bonnet and ram bores of the blowout preventer against radial deflection, relative to the ram bore, when in the closed position and exposed to wellbore pressure. Additionally, the actuators of the ram assembly remain axially stationary during use.

Abstract: An improved ram assembly for a blowout preventer having a design that permits the seals of the ram assembly to be located in the working area and out of the way of threads or other rough/jagged surfaces that could damage the seals in the event of failure of the blowout preventer, such as if the threaded connection fails and the rams are suddenly pushed outwards. The ram assembly can also have a pin-and-groove mechanism that permits the rams to rotate when in the closed/sealing position to account for a misaligned rod. Further, the ram heads of the ram assembly can have a sufficient length such that they remain supported by the bonnet and ram bores of the blowout preventer against radial deflection, relative to the ram bore, when in the closed position and exposed to wellbore pressure. Additionally, the actuators of the ram assembly remain axially stationary during use.

Abstract: A rod guide is provided for use on a rod string extending through a bore of a wellbore tubular. The rod guide has an elongate, generally cylindrical body configured to be connected in-line with a rod string, and a plurality of wheels rotatably fastened to the outside of the cylindrical body and configured to roll along the wellbore tubular. The plurality of wheels are angularly offset from each other to provide multiple rolling planes upon which the rod guide my roll, and can be arranged in series or in opposing pairs. The wheels also assist in centralizing the rod guide in the wellbore tubular. When arranged in a helical pattern, the wheels also facilitate rotation of the rod string.

Abstract: A holddown assembly is provided for axially securing a pump in a wellbore. The assembly has a mandrel having at least one resilient holding element and at least one resilient sealing element. The holding elements are made of a durable material and configured to require a pre-determined seating force to seat the assembly in a seating tubular, and a pre-determined unseating force to unseat the assembly. The holding elements are configured to elastically deform when seated, such that the pre-determined seating and unseating force does not change significantly even over many seating/unseating cycles. The sealing elements are configured to sealingly engage with the seating tubular to prevent wellbore fluid from flowing thereby. As the sealing elements are only used for forming a fluid seal, and not for securing the pump, damage to the sealing elements as a result of repeated seatings and unseatings is mitigated.

Abstract: A self-aligning stuffing box is provided for mounting to a wellhead and aligning with a polished rod extending therethrough. The stuffing box has an upper sealing section housing stuffing box seals and an annular retaining plate for clamping a flange portion of the sealing section to the wellhead. The flanged portion of the sealing section has oversized bolt apertures, allowing it to be laterally displaced relative to the wellhead before being secured to the wellhead. The retaining plate and the wellhead have bolt apertures corresponding to the oversized apertures. The stuffing box can be mounted on a wellhead using a plurality of fasteners. The stuffing box can be aligned with a polished rod by loosening the fasteners and stroking the polished rod to allow the sealing section to be laterally displaced. The fasteners can then be tightened or re-tightened to secure the sealing section to the wellhead.

Abstract: A rod guide is provided for use on a rod string extending through a bore of a wellbore tubular. The rod guide has an elongate, generally cylindrical body configured to be connected in-line with a rod string, and a plurality of wheels rotatably fastened to the outside of the cylindrical body and configured to roll along the wellbore tubular. The plurality of wheels are angularly offset from each other to provide multiple rolling planes upon which the rod guide my roll, and can be arranged in series or in opposing pairs. The wheels also assist in centralizing the rod guide in the wellbore tubular. When arranged in a helical pattern, the wheels also facilitate rotation of the rod string.

Abstract: A holddown assembly is provided for axially securing a pump in a wellbore. The assembly has a mandrel having at least one resilient holding element and at least one resilient sealing element. The holding elements are made of a durable material and configured to require a pre-determined seating force to seat the assembly in a seating tubular, and a pre-determined unseating force to unseat the assembly. The holding elements are configured to elastically deform when seated, such that the pre-determined seating and unseating force does not change significantly even over many seating/unseating cycles. The sealing elements are configured to sealingly engage with the seating tubular to prevent wellbore fluid from flowing thereby. As the sealing elements are only used for forming a fluid seal, and not for securing the pump, damage to the sealing elements as a result of repeated seatings and unseatings is mitigated.

Abstract: A self-aligning stuffing box is provided for mounting to a wellhead and aligning with a polished rod extending therethrough. The stuffing box has an upper sealing section housing stuffing box seals and an annular retaining plate for clamping a flange portion of the sealing section to the wellhead. The flanged portion of the sealing section has oversized bolt apertures, allowing it to be laterally displaced relative to the wellhead before being secured to the wellhead. The retaining plate and the wellhead have bolt apertures corresponding to the oversized apertures. The stuffing box can be mounted on a wellhead using a plurality of fasteners. The stuffing box can be aligned with a polished rod by loosening the fasteners and stroking the polished rod to allow the sealing section to be laterally displaced. The fasteners can then be tightened or re-tightened to secure the sealing section to the wellhead.